Lu Dinh Tuan: Not tall but others have to look up to him

Lu Dinh Tuan has become one of the symbols of Vietnamese football thanks to his special qualities. Despite his modest height, he still makes "others look up" with admiration and respect.

First Vietnamese player to score in World Cup qualifiers

In the early 90s of the last century, regional press had articles praising Lu Dinh Tuan right after the Vietnamese player was added to the national team and played very well for Saigon Port in the Inter-Port Cup. This small player caught the attention of the Southeast Asian media because he quickly affirmed his talent and made extremely worthy contributions. Lu Dinh Tuan was extremely skillful, had butterfly movements on the field, mastered the situation, and had delicate dribbling techniques.

Lu Dinh Tuan (11) in the Vietnamese team jersey at the 18th SEA Games in 1995, with Hoang Buu (8), Hong Son (18) and Liem Thanh (13)

PHOTO: DOCUMENT

At that time, Lu Dinh Tuan not only contributed greatly to helping the Saigon Port team win the National Cup in 1992, win the National Championship in 1993 - 1994, but he also made his mark at the 16th SEA Games in the Philippines and most notably scored the first goal for Vietnamese football in the World Cup qualifying round. The opening goal was in the 14th minute of the qualifying match against Singapore, losing 2-3 on April 13, 1993. Then Fandi Ahmad equalized 1-1 and the Lion Island team took the lead 3-1. At the end of the match, striker Phan Thanh Hung scored the second goal for the Vietnamese team.

Mr. Tuan was moved when talking about the memory: "Although it was more than 30 years ago, it is a beautiful memory that I will never forget. Later, through the press, I learned that I became the first Vietnamese player to score a goal in a major tournament. I was very happy with that milestone. I also remember the goal that Ha Vuong Ngau Nai scored against Indonesia, bringing the first victory for the Vietnamese team just a few days after the match against Singapore in the World Cup qualifiers. That goal came from a free kick on the left, I passed it to Nai to choose a good position to score."

Considered by international press as Vietnam's Maradona

Coach Pham Huynh Tam Lang and his students from Saigon Port team, including Lu Dinh Tuan (second from left)

At that time, there were two small but very cunning players. If Nguyen Hong Son emerged in the north, then in the south, it was the former famous player Lu Dinh Tuan. Tuan "hedgehog" recounted: "Before playing for the Saigon Port team, I was not selected by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Sports and Physical Training to enter the Gifted School because I was too small, 1.57 m tall. But thanks to inheriting some qualities from my father (Mr. Lu Hung Phan, former famous player of The Cong - NV ), when I joined the Saigon Port team, under the guidance of coach Pham Huynh Tam Lang, learning from my seniors, I improved every day and gradually made good contributions. Also because of my small stature, at first I was not on the list of the Vietnamese team gathering to prepare for the 16th SEA Games. But for some objective reasons, I was called up to strengthen. Thanks to this lucky opportunity, I tried my best and asserted myself".

Lu Dinh Tuan - the pride of city football

Explaining the nickname Tuan "hedgehog", the former player born in 1968 laughed happily: "Since I was a child, my parents' neighbor, maybe because he saw my gentle face, he called me that intimately. I didn't expect that later when I played, because I was quick to react and my playing style made my opponents uncomfortable, many people attached the word "hedgehog" to my name."

Assistant Lu Dinh Tuan (left) works alongside coach Park Hang-seo

Lu Dinh Tuan's senior, former goalkeeper Nguyen Hong Pham, commented: "Tuan has a very thorny style of play, whoever touches him bounces off because of his excellent ball control skills. Tuan is ready to "ruffle" his feathers but his way of playing is still very legal, beautiful, effective with his extremely flexible left foot. I was the "victim" of his junior when Tuan first appeared on Thong Nhat Stadium and "caught" me in the net to pick up the ball in the match between Saigon Port and Hai Quan (at that time Mr. Pham was still playing for Hai Quan - NV ). It was that thorniness that formed a strong "hedgehog" Tuan, small but mighty, with a fiery style of play. "Hedgehog" Tuan became the pride of football lovers in Ho Chi Minh City".

Regarding the international press's comparison with the legendary Diego Maradona, Tuan "hedgehog" humbly said: "Honestly, I dare not accept it. I have never thought I was as good as a superstar of Maradona's caliber. Everyone who watched Maradona play at that time was fascinated, and so was I, so when I was compared to such a big star, I was very hesitant. I think I only have a few similarities to the late Argentine legend, such as being short, having a quick left foot, and speed. Such a comparison is too lame because no one has achieved the same level and strength as him."

The journey of being a teacher

Lu Dinh Tuan had to retire from his football career before the age of 30 due to a persistent injury after the 18th SEA Games in 1995 in Chiangmai (Thailand). Putting aside his sadness, he took coaching courses to have the opportunity to continue contributing to the Saigon Port team and later the Southern Steel - Saigon Port team and then Ho Chi Minh City Club. At the national team level, Tuan "hedgehog" was lucky enough to be an assistant coach to Coach Park Hang-seo, creating many historical marks starting from the U.23 team that won the Asian runner-up in Changzhou (2018) then the ASIAD in Indonesia, won the AFF Cup 2018, the 30th SEA Games in 2019 in the Philippines, the 2019 Asian Cup finals in the UAE and the highlight was reaching the 3rd qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup in Asia.

The joy of coach Lu Dinh Tuan

However, the coaching career of former football star Lu Dinh Tuan at the club level was not "smooth sailing", if not extremely difficult, except for the only joy when he led Ho Chi Minh City Club to win promotion in 2016. He traveled all over the team Can Tho, Saigon Xuan Thanh, Dak Lak and later Becamex Binh Duong .

Mr. Tuan shared: "Being a coach is very stressful, winning is nothing to talk about, losing or having one or two matches where the team does not play to their full potential, the leader is immediately surrounded by heavy pressure. For me, wherever I go, I do my best, showing everything I have. If I feel that it does not bring success, of course I have to leave". Perhaps that is why after more than 10 years of hard work and hardship with coaching at V-League or first-class clubs, Mr. Tuan finally returned to youth football. He shared: "Over the past 3 years, we have worked together to gradually build Ho Chi Minh City youth football. The U.21 and U.19 teams of Ho Chi Minh City regularly make it to the National Finals. That is a great motivation, bringing happiness to my coaching career".

Mr. Tuan has a son, Lu Dinh Duc Anh, who plays for Ton Duc Thang University in the Vietnam Youth Student Football Tournament, season 1 and 2. He often goes to the stadium to encourage and cheer for his son and Duc Anh's teammates. He said: "Duc Anh is very passionate about football, has talent, plays the central midfielder position, has good control and coverage skills, but in fact he is not good enough to step into the professional field. So I also guide my son to play in the second division, which is suitable for him. Duc Anh is playing for Vinh Long team". (continued)

Lu Dinh Tuan was born on August 17, 1968 in Hanoi . He won the national championship in the 1993-1994 and 1997 seasons with the Saigon Port team, and the National Cup in the 1992 season. He played for the Vietnamese team in 3 consecutive SEA Games in 1991, 1993 and 1995 (winning the silver medal this year).

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lu-dinh-tuan-khong-cao-nhung-nguoi-khac-phai-nguoc-nhin-185250426221211853.htm